Forest Pests

New Brunswick is bracing for the return of the spruce budworm, a pest that ravaged the province's forests in the 1960s and 70s. The outbreak lasted until 1993. It is starting to move into New Brunswick from Quebec. At a recent Fundy Model Forest workshop Dave MacLean, one of Canada's leading authorities on this pest, forecast the cost to the Province in lost stumpage revenue, forestry jobs, and overall economic impact of another outbreak if nothing is done to mitigate the damage. He and his colleagues have analysed the cost/benefit ratio of various responses to an outbreak. They include doing nothing, focused spraying of biological agents and changing harvesting schedules.

His presentation, given at a Forest Pest and Disease Workshop in Fredericton, N.B. Feb. 15, 2012, is available with narration by clicking here: Spruce Budworm Next in NB  or by visiting the Fundy Model Forest website.